Dramatic decline of one of the nation's favourite creatures: 300,000 fewer hedgehogs in Britain than a decade ago

The hedgehog is in dramatic decline - with around 300,000 fewer in Britain than a decade ago.

Some 50,000 of the spiky creatures die on our roads every year and the animal could be under threat as a species within a few years.

In addition, more intensive farming practices are destroying the hedgehog's habitat in rural areas.

People's Trust for Endangered Species watched for dead hedgehogs on our roads and noticed that the numbers fell by almost a third in the past decade.

Spiky subject: There are a third fewer hedgehogs on Britain's roads than there were a decade ago - and Sega, who created Sonic the Hedgehog are trying to help the animal's plight

From an average of 1.8 hedgehogs recorded per 100 kms (62 miles) in 2001 there were only 1.3 last year. It is thought only around a million hedgehogs remain in Britain.

The slump in casualty sightings came despite a marked increase in traffic on the 250,000 miles of roads monitored.

The greatest decline has been in Wales where the numbers sighted dropped 78 per cent from 3.2 per 100kms in 2001 to 0.7 in 2009.

Scotland has seen a 37 per cent fall from 6.3 to 4.0 and the East of England a 28 per cent drop from 2.5 to 1.8.

Drastic decline: There are now only about one million hedgehogs in Britain - and there are 300,000 fewer around than there were in 2001

The charity's lead researcher David Wembridge said: 'The level of our concern about hedgehog numbers is growing because of the mounting evidence of decline in their population.

'All the indications are that something is going wrong and that in a few decades time, the hedgehog might be under threat as a species.

'In rural areas, more intensive farming practices and larger fields are reducing the hedgehog's natural habitat and the prey like slugs and centipedes that it feeds on.

'And our best guess from research is that 50,000 hedgehogs die on our roads each year.

'It is hard to monitor the hedgehog because it is a nocturnal creature, so road casualties are the best evidence of population.

'The number of cars on the roads is rising but we are still seeing a decline in sightings of casualties, which suggests that the population is declining quite dramatically.

'We are trying to encourage farmers to get involved in conservation schemes and encouraging gardeners to set aside undisturbed areas such as compost heaps or wood piles where hedgehogs can thrive.'

Dangers: Another reason for the decline of hedgehogs is thought to be because of more intensive farming practices which destroy the hedgehog's habitat in rural areas.

And video gaming giant Sega, who created the hit Sonic the hedgehog, have teamed up with the Trust to highlight the animal's plight.

They created a 'hedgehog road crossing' in Twickenham, south-west London, to coincide with the release of its new game Sonic Colours, starring Sonic the Hedgehog.

Four hedgehogs tested the crossing as a lollipop lady stood guard.

The hedgehogs' handler Trevor Smith said: 'Our hedgehogs had great fun ruling the roads for the day with the hedgehog crossing and it will hopefully encourage everyone to do their bit in helping the hedgehogs of Britain stick around for years to come.'

Sega's Anna Downing said: 'Hedgehogs are an intrinsic part of British wildlife and with Sonic the Hedgehog such an institution we thought he was the perfect figure to raise awareness of their plight.'